You don't have to resign yourself to a summer of TV reruns and microwave popcorn. Tickets and snacks have gotten more expensive, but with a little planning, there are ways to save on a night at the movies.

Theaters chains including AMC and Regal Entertainment Group pushed ticket prices up this year by 50 cents to $1 on standard features, depending on the market, according to a report from investment firm BTIG. IMAX and 3-D features saw price jumps of $2 to $3,

The concession stand is where moviegoers are most likely to see big price increases. For example, a small popcorn at AMC costs $5.75, up from $4.75 last year. A small soda is now $4.25 instead of $3.75. "Theaters want to keep the margin on concession items as high as possible, and on tickets, as low as possible," says Wesley Hartmann, an associate professor of marketing at Stanford University. If $7 for a bag of popcorn shocks consumers, they'll most likely go without. But if ticket prices are too high, they may decide to skip the movie altogether and wait to see Marmaduke when it comes out on DVD.

On the other hand, there are discount opportunities, and they can help you cut costs by as much as 70%. Here are nine strategies.

Seek out freebies

Many theaters offer free -- albeit potentially crowded -- showings of family movies during the summer. Regal hosts a Free Family Film Festival every Tuesday and Wednesday morning through the end of August, showing flicks like "Monsters vs. Aliens" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs." Clearview Cinemas' Kid's Club kicks off an eight-week series of free movies starting June 30.

Clip coupons

Your local Entertainment Book typically offers reduced-price movie tickets for as little as $6 apiece. Also, keep your eyes peeled for special promotions. Kroger offers shoppers a choice of rewards, including a free movie ticket, each time they purchase 10 items from participating brands.

Head to the drive-in

If there's a drive-in in your town, then get behind the wheel. Moviegoers accustomed to state-of-the-art theaters may see these venues as old-fashioned novelties, but most drive-ins show new releases -- and at the bargain price of about $7 a person for a double feature, says Jennifer Sherer Janisch, co-creator of Drive-ins.com, an online directory. Some drive-ins don't even charge for kids, while others offer bargain per-car pricing. (From June 18 to 24, the Starlite Drive-In in Amelia, Ohio, for example, is showing "Toy Story 3" and "Prince of Persia" for $7 per adult and $4 per kid. Visit on a Tuesday and pay a flat $18 per carload for up to six people.) Concession fare is often cheaper, too, Janisch says.

Wait a month or so for new movies to show up at a local independently-owned theater, and you can save more than 70%. The Kleeburg Marketplace Cinemas in Winston-Salem, N.C., is showing features like "Alice in Wonderland" and "Clash of the Titans" for just $2.50. Prices at Cinemark Movies 10 in Plano, Texas, range from 75 cents (all day on Tuesdays) to $2 (Friday and Saturday evening showings).

Buy in bulk

At AMC Theaters, avid moviegoers can buy tickets in increments of 50 for $6 to $7.50 each. The tickets don't expire. There is one catch, though: The cheaper tickets cannot be used for special engagements (i.e., the first two weeks of a movie's release). You can also purchase bulk tickets at warehouse clubs. For example, Costco sells a $33 four-pack of Regal tickets that can be used at any showing. At a Regal theater in Denver, that could translate to a savings of up to $9.

Avoid reservation sites

Go online and you'll end up paying more for your ticket. Movietickets.com charges a $1 surcharge; Fandango.com tacks on 75 cents to $2, depending on the area.

Trade up on snacks

If you're going to buy popcorn or soda, go big. "Per ounce, the smallest size of popcorn is twice the price of filet mignon," says Richard McKenzie, a University of California, Irvine economist and author of "Why Popcorn Costs So Much at the Movies, and Other Pricing Puzzles." Trade up for the larger size and you're paying less per ounce -- plus, many theaters still offer free refills. Although that's not much of a deal for a solo viewer, larger groups will find it more cost effective than buying snacks individually. Other tips to cut your snack bill include discount gift cards and bulk vouchers.

Go at off-times

Heading to the theater on a Friday or Saturday night is the most expensive time to go. In San Francisco, Cinemark charges an extra 25 cents per ticket on those nights, $11 per adult instead of $10.75. Theaters are also restricting matinee hours. New York's AMC Theaters offer $6 tickets noon, after which prices jump to $13 for adults.

Be loyal

Joining the loyalty club at your favorite theater can pay off, even if you don't go to the movies that often. AMC Theaters' AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers a coupon for a free small popcorn each week, plus two points per ticket purchased. After you've earned 30, you'll get a free ticket. The Regal Crown Club awards one point per $1 spent. Rack up 150 points and redeem them for a free ticket.

This story was updated from a piece that originally ran July 5, 2009.